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Topic: So... what are we currently reading? (Read 14193 times) |
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snipe
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Master Dick
 
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Re: So... what are we currently reading?
« Reply #480 on: Feb 2nd, 2010, 3:16pm » |
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I'm reading through the original Question series from the late 80s written by O'Neil. Good stuff. Nothing like what he was in JLU, but I'm enjoying it. So far, it's mostly done-in-one issues, but with an over-arching structure. Always building, but each issue is a complete story.
Remember how writers used to be able to tell a whole story in a single issue? Refreshing 
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TurkeyMoose
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Re: So... what are we currently reading?
« Reply #481 on: Feb 7th, 2010, 06:07am » |
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Yeah, that's a good series. I read the four TPBs, but I got to a point where the TPBs stop at issue 24 (with a cliffhanger), so I had to buy the additional single issues, but I couldn't get my hands on all of them, and I just never got around to getting them or reading any more. I'll have to look into it again.
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snipe
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Master Dick
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Re: So... what are we currently reading?
« Reply #482 on: Feb 7th, 2010, 08:33am » |
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I know the 5th trade is out now, and #6 (the final) is solicited. I think it comes out maybe in March / April.
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snipe
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Re: So... what are we currently reading?
« Reply #483 on: Feb 8th, 2010, 8:35pm » |
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The Question's 2005 miniseries is pretty much 180 degrees from the O'Neil stuff. Hard to tell it's even the same character.
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TurkeyMoose
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Re: So... what are we currently reading?
« Reply #484 on: Feb 11th, 2010, 11:05pm » |
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on Feb 7th, 2010, 08:33am, snipe wrote:| I know the 5th trade is out now, and #6 (the final) is solicited. I think it comes out maybe in March / April. |
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Thanks for letting me know. I'm going to pick it up. 
I actually haven't been reading comics much lately. Before I stopped, I was reading through the Green Arrow series from the '90s after Ollie died, but I lost interest and just didn't start reading anything else. But recently I've found myself with nothing to do so I think it's time to start reading comics again, especially with the return of Bruce Wayne on the horizon. I haven't read anything that's happened after Battle for the Cowl. I have a lot of catching up to do.
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snipe
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Re: So... what are we currently reading?
« Reply #485 on: Feb 12th, 2010, 05:05am » |
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on Feb 11th, 2010, 11:05pm, TurkeyMoose wrote:| I actually haven't been reading comics much lately. Before I stopped, I was reading through the Green Arrow series from the '90s after Ollie died, but I lost interest and just didn't start reading anything else. |
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I get that way quite a lot actually. I'll read my new stuff on Wednesdays when it comes out, then won't pick anything else up for a while.
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snipe
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Re: So... what are we currently reading?
« Reply #486 on: Feb 20th, 2010, 7:25pm » |
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I'm currently reading through the DC reprint series that ran through the 80s. I just finished the first issue of Roots of the Swamp Thing (issues 1-2 of the original series). Good stuff.
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Nick
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Re: So... what are we currently reading?
« Reply #487 on: Mar 27th, 2010, 7:36pm » |
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Earlier I sat down and read Tony Daniel's "Life After Death" arc from start to finish. I wish I hadn't.
I quite enjoyed this guys art for R.I.P. It wasn't perfect, but it was functional and did the job a lot better than a lot of monthly pencillers. But as a writer on Battle For The Cowl I thought he was beyond attrocious, it read like terrible fan fiction at best. It was a messy, incoherent abomination if I'm honest.
I feared his second attempt, and surely it couldn't be worse than Winick's painful preceding run? Well thankfully it wasn't as bad as that, but it wasn't much better. I must say it was a huge improvement over Battle For The Cowl, but the writing was still a little distracting at times and it was boring as hell. Dick didn't really seem to have much of a personality here, Damien also lacked that charm that Morrison has been injecting in his own book and seemed more like the old hatable Damien.
After the first three issues I couldn't believe I was only halfway, thankfully the next three were a vast improvement. But ultimately by the end I just did not care. The revelation of Black Mask I guessed a mile away, and even with the confirmation I was more irritated than anything else - it neither shocked, nor excited me in any way. The arc just felt like an utter waste of time, to be honest I wish there had never been a new Black Mask in the first place.
At one point Dick even asks something along the lines of "can't these guys come up with original monikers" In reference to the new Black Mask and Reaper. Well yes Tony, my thoughts exactly. Is this Daniel admitting he realises this whole arc is boring and unoriginal? To add to that I don't like the indication that we are going to see a regressed Riddler, that just screams "LACK OF IDEAS!" The reformed Riddler has been vastly more interesting in his quirky, dark, broody, and occasionally ultra-violent private detective who despite it all is still fighting for good. I guess he's a bit like old school Harvey Dent in a way. But hey, at least he was interesting!
Oh, and with all the 'veiled' foreshadowing that is so popular these days, it seems Daniel has plans for those two teenage girl thieves with the oh so subtle hint of "but that's another story" comment about the girl (Tracy was it) losing her foot that was on like one page of one issue and then the obvious foreshadowing with the (unfinished) ending for Kitrina. Looks like Daniel will be around a bit longer. *sigh*
Oh, and you know what? With all my complaints about the writing I even forgot to talk about the art: And this one was odd. Instantly I preferred his slightly darker approach than he had used previously. For starters it was interesting that he had Dick in black and grey while I'm sure he had Bruce in the ol' dark blue cape for R.I.P. But his actual character faces seem to have changed. Dick looked nothing like the way Daniel used to draw him, for some reason Damien's hair really bothered me; poor Barbara was the worst casualty as her head seemed to competlely change shape with every angle, and most strikingly - if it wasn't pointed out in the text I would have had no idea that was Hush! I know he was in his Bruce Wayne disguise, but that's my point; he looked NOTHING like the way Daniel drew Bruce in R.I.P! Did he forget how he drew him or something?
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I just plain don't like this guy when he's writing. I thought he put in a solid art run with R.I.P. But his writing in Battle For The Cowl was attrocious, and this (while better written) was pointless and boring. To top it off I swear his art in R.I.P was better - I'm sure the art degrades as he overstretches himself. And with that rather bizarre ending to Winick's run as yet ignored I'm sure he'll also be back before long. DC really need to give someone new a go on the "Batman" book, this is 12 solid issues of crap since the hiatus in early '09.
But after all that criticism, you know what I'm really enjoying these days? Batgirl! That's right, I'm absolutely loving Steph's new series! I think I'm the only one; but hell, #5 was the most I've enjoyed reading a single issue in a very very long time. While obviously Morrison is top of the pile in quality - Batgirl is certainly my feel good book! Although I always wanted her back as full time Robin (and in general I do not like the Batgirl concept due to my insistance The Batman should be the only Bat) I am more than happy to have her here in her own book!
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| « Last Edit: Mar 27th, 2010, 7:41pm by Nick » |
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snipe
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Re: So... what are we currently reading?
« Reply #488 on: Mar 27th, 2010, 9:10pm » |
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on Mar 27th, 2010, 7:36pm, Nick wrote:| But after all that criticism, you know what I'm really enjoying these days? Batgirl! That's right, I'm absolutely loving Steph's new series! I think I'm the only one; but hell, #5 was the most I've enjoyed reading a single issue in a very very long time. While obviously Morrison is top of the pile in quality - Batgirl is certainly my feel good book! Although I always wanted her back as full time Robin (and in general I do not like the Batgirl concept due to my insistance The Batman should be the only Bat) I am more than happy to have her here in her own book! |
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I like it, too. It's one of my favorite Bat-books right now. I love her interaction with Damien.
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snipe
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Re: So... what are we currently reading?
« Reply #489 on: Apr 6th, 2010, 5:49pm » |
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I've dipped over into some Marvel stuff. Reading Essential X-Men v1 right now. It starts with Giant Size #1 with the new team. I'm digging it so far.
I tried reading Essential Daredevil 1 a few times, but have never made it past the first couple of issues.
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TheMidnighter
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Re: So... what are we currently reading?
« Reply #490 on: Apr 7th, 2010, 08:42am » |
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That's the beginning of the Claremont era, is it not? I loved those stories, although the early Cockrum art looks dated now. Byrne and Austin produced amazing stuff on that title.
Why did you not like the Essential Daredevil. Was it the black and white, dated style or just the stories? (I have not read it, I'm just curious.)
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snipe
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Re: So... what are we currently reading?
« Reply #491 on: Apr 7th, 2010, 6:06pm » |
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The early DD stuff is really dated I guess. To me, it's really cumbersome to read. I don't know how else to explain it. It takes me an ungodly time just to get through an issue. I don't care about art or black and white, it's the story.
I know things back then were more geared toward younger readers, but it's almost as though it's too narrated and giving me too much information.
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snipe
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Re: So... what are we currently reading?
« Reply #492 on: Apr 8th, 2010, 7:17pm » |
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We had a guy come in the comic shop yesterday (older guy, in his 50s) who was raving about the old DD stuff is so much better than the new stuff
I guess it takes all kinds. 
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Nick
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Re: So... what are we currently reading?
« Reply #493 on: Apr 9th, 2010, 3:47pm » |
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In celebration of... well nothing actually, I've been shopping. My recent purchases to be read are:
Batman: The Black Casebook
Batman: Dark Legends
Batman: Son Of The Demon
Batman: Bride Of The Demon
Batman: Birth Of The Demon
The Mystery Play (Grant Morrison)
Kill Your Boyfriend (Grant Morrison)
Veils (Pat McGreal)
The Discworld Graphic Novels (Terry Pratchett)
I have to return the Final Crisis Hardcover because I was sent a badly damaged one
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Recently read Batman: Absolution, I've had it on the shelf for 5 years before actually reading it. I wish I left it another 5 years.
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TurkeyMoose
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Re: So... what are we currently reading?
« Reply #494 on: Apr 18th, 2010, 3:30pm » |
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I think it's time for an update. I've recently been picking back up with my comics reading, and I'm finally just about done with all of the Green Arrow stuff. I read through the entire first series, including Conner Hawke's boring tenure as Green Arrow, then read through all of the second series TPBs, which were great, and now I'm on the third Green Arrow/Black Canary TPB. I know the fourth one is out now, so I'll be picking that up soon.
I'm not sure where I'll go from here. I think I might re-read Batman R.I.P. Then maybe I'll read Battle for the Cowl again too, this time including all of the tie-in stuff, which I didn't read last time. I'd like to start reading the post-Battle for the Cowl stuff, but I haven't been able to get my hands on all of the issues. Perhaps I'll just wait until they release some TPBs. No sense in buying all of the single issues when I know I'm just going to buy the TPBs anyway when they come out. I obviously love wasting extravagant amounts of money. I get depressed when I look at my bookcases full of comics and think of just how much money I must have spent on them over the past seven years. Shameful. I think I need to start selling some of them.
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